A royal miniature portrait

A small portrait of just a few centimetres in size of Queen Caroline Mathilde (1751-1775) has recently emerged and is now being put up for auction at online auction 1219. The artist behind it is thought to be Andreas Thornborg (1730-1780), one of the court’s favourite miniature painters in the 18th century.  The portrait up for auction depicts the young, characterful queen, and shows the artist’s skills to their best advantage.

A legendary love affair

Of all the notable personalities in the history of the Danish royal family, Caroline Mathilde is probably one of the ones who stand out most in people’s minds. This is due, in no small part, to her steamy affair with court physician J. F. Struensee (1737-72), which had disastrous consequences for the kingdom and not least the two parties involved.

Changing tones in the royal family

The British Princess Caroline Mathilde became Queen of Denmark in 1766 when, at the age of 15, she married her cousin, King Christian VII, in an arranged marriage, unaware of the turbulent future that awaited her in the Danish royal family.

The king suffered from schizophrenia and, in 1768, German doctor J. F. Struensee was hired as his personal physician.  Struensee was a progressive man who brought ideas of enlightenment to the Danish Court. The royal couple were open to Struensee’s ideas, and he had great influence on national politics due, among other things, to his appointment as “geheimekabinetsminister”, a minister with almost sole authority. As the king’s mental state deteriorated, Struensee assumed even greater power, to the point where he could issue laws without the king’s signature. This led to the abolition of the Council of State, a reduction of the power of the nobility and the introduction of press freedom. However, Struensee’s influence extended beyond new reforms. He was also responsible for bringing up the royal couple’s son, Crown Prince Frederik VI, and even found his way into the queen’s bed. Together they had a daughter, the later Louise Augusta of Denmark.

Palace coup and uprising

In 1772, Caroline Mathilde and Struensee’s happiness was over. They were overthrown in a coup orchestrated by the king’s stepmother, Dowager Queen Juliane Marie and her son, Heir Presumptive Prince Frederik. They forced the king to sign their seizure of power, abolished all of Struensee’s reforms, sentenced him to death and exiled Caroline Mathilde to Celle in Germany, where she died a few years later, aged just 23. 

Preview and auction

Let yourself be carried away by the royal love story and bid on the fine miniature portrait of Caroline Mathilde, which is up for auction at online auction 1219. The final hammer falls on the evening of Monday 7 May.  You are also more than welcome to pay us a visit at Sundkrogsgade 30 in Copenhagen’s Nordhavn to have a closer look at the miniature portrait, which will be on display at the preview from Friday 27 April.

If you would like to learn more about this dramatic period in Danish history, Nikolaj Arcel’s current film “A royal affair” is highly recommended, as are Svend Cedergreen Bech’s book “Struensee og hans tid” (Struensee and his time) from 1989 and Per Olov Enquist’s novel “Livlægens besøg” (Visits by the royal physician) from 1999.